The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-26
INGERS0LL ON ALCOHOL.


In lecture printed last year in THE
UNIvERsALIsT, Rev. H. N. Strong, our
venerable brother of Ensalem, Wis,
inserted what he supposed was Col. r.
G. Ingersoll's denunciation of alcohol.
He copied it from speech in temper
ence handbook, giving full credit.
Sometime afterward Br. Strong re-
ceived a letter from a friend stating
that he had read in a paper that Col.
lngersoll was not the author of the quo
tation in question; also giving reasons
for believing that he would not use the
language attributed to him. The pas
sage was highly rhetorical and some
what extravagant; and inasmuch as
the great apostle Of unbelief was repre-
sented as saying that alcohol courses
God and despises heaven" and is 1.-The
DEVILS best friend and Gods worst en-
emy," the language smacked more of
an orthodox revivalist than the
champion of American agnosticism; the
doubt as to its authorship was well
taken. Br. Strong answered his friend
that he understood some of the Ian
guage as rhetorical extravaganza; that
he did not choose to use such language
himself, but no more thought that some
of the language quoted would have
been interpreted literally, than that BIZ
BILE readers would believe that God rains
snares, fire and birthstone, and throws
down rocks.
Under the circumstances it was
thought advisable to appeal to Col. Inger-
soil himself as to the authenticity of the
quotation. Br. Strong accordingly wrote
to him, stating the facts, and received
in reply printed communication issued
six years ago to answer charges and in
quiries. It is not necessary to copy the
entire circular. 1t seems Col Ingersoll
had been accused Of appropriating the
writings Of others and palming them off
as his own.
The facts appear to be, that in 1876,
in the course Of his argument in the
Mum trial at Chicago, he used the fol-
lowing language: 81 believe, gentle
''men, that alcohol, to certain degree,
'demoralizes those who make it, those
'swho sell it, and these who drink it.
81 believe from the time it issues from
''the coiled and poisonous worm of the
''distillery, until it empties into the hell
'sof crime, death and dishonor, it demon
''alizes every body that touches it. lido
mot believe that anybody can contem-
''plate the subject, without being preju-
''diced against this liquid crime. All
''you have to do, gentlemen, is to think
''of the wrecks upon either hand of this
''stream of death, of the suicides, of
"the insanity, of the poverty, of the
Ignorance, of the distress, of the little
children Juggling at the faded dresses
''of weeping and despairing wives, ask
AAS AVl DACci, VI tuO AlCA VI SCIlu6 IL
''has wrecked of the millions who
struggled with imaginary serpents by
''this devilish thing. And when you
'sthink of the jails, of the almshouses,
''of the prisons, and of the scaffolds
upon either bank-I do not wonder
"that every thoughtful man is preju.
''diced against the damnable stuff, call
led alcoholic
Such is the forcible, and not very ex-
travagant language of Col. Ingersoll on
the subject. 1t seems that some tenn
perence lecturer, appropriated what he
said, and also longer paragraph from
some one else. The two pieces, one from
him and one from another person, were
put together and published as from him.
He has disclaimed all authorship and
knowledge of the second piece which
was credited to him in Mr.. Strong's
lecture. We make the correction in
justice to Col. Ingersoll, and insert the
appropriate remarks that he did make,
generating him from the extravagant
language which he very properly dis
claims